Japan, US, South Korea hold trilateral exercise | NHK WORLD-JAPAN News

Japan’s Defense Ministry has announced the start of a trilateral exercise with the United States and South Korea on Thursday in the East China Sea.

The Defense Ministry says Japan’s Self-Defense Forces and the US and South Korean militaries are holding the exercise — called Freedom Edge — through Saturday.

Seven naval vessels from the three countries, including the US nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt, are taking part along with fighter jets and patrol aircraft.

The exercise will include drills to counter ballistic missiles, submarines and cyberattacks.

The ministry says the aim is to ensure peace and stability in the Indo Pacific, including the Korean Peninsula, by improving interoperability among the three countries and demonstrating their will to protect freedom.

The drills are seen to be aimed at showcasing trilateral cooperation to countries such as North Korea and China.

North Korea has been repeatedly launching missiles.

The start of the exercise comes as Japan’s Defense Ministry is keeping a close watch on North Korea after it fired a ballistic missile on Wednesday.

North Korea had warned it would take countermeasures in response to the arrival of the USS Theodore Roosevelt at a South Korean port last weekend.